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Rosemary Beach leaving -- restaurants and bike rentals?

I would love any suggestions on the best places to eat in Rosemary Beach. Also, our condo is next door to Rosemary Beach at the Vikkages of South Walton. HAs anyone experienced these? Is it really right next door to Rosemary Beach and close to the beach? Where would you suggest renting a bike? Should we just take out own?

In addition to nolefan's recommendations (not withstanding poor taste in football affiliation - geaux tigers), other dining options are as follows:

You should definitely got to Bud and Alley's it is a 30A tradition.

Onano - Italian ($$), in Rosemary Beach. After Bud and Alley's it is one of our favorites in the area. It is easily walkable/bikeable from where you are staying.

Chops 30A ($$$) - an outpost of the Destin restaurant. On the ground floor in the building where you are staying. Steaks and seafood. Very good and my wife and I like to just drop in and eat at the bar.

Shades at the Loop ($) - a bike ride or bit longer walk from where you are staying. At the intersection of 30-A and Hwy 98. Bar food, so burgers, pizza, fried oysters, etc...

George's at Alys Beach ($-$$)- a bike ride or bit longer walk away going away from Rosemary on 30A (toward Seaside). Should be open when you are there too. It was set to open mid-July when we were last there, so you might want to make sure they are open. Florida beach food - fried fish, oysters, other seafood.

Summer Kitchen/Blue by Night ($-$$)- in Rosemary Beach. Burgers, sandwiches, etc... for lunch. More entree oriented meals at dinner. Has been hit or miss in my opinion (have only been for dinner).

In Seaside, the Great Southern Cafe ($$) is also very good. A seafood/beach twist on Southern food.

Cowgirl kitchen is also in Rosemary and sells sandwiches and wraps, but I have not tried it.

As for bikes, we rent them there to avoid hauling them to the beach. Bamboo Bicycle is right in Rosemary and my wife and I rent a pair of beach cruisers for around $150 for the week. You are not too far from everything where you are staying, but you probably want a bike. When we stay across 30A in Rosemary we like having the bike too just for going to the beach - makes for a quick trip with the cooler.

For Bud and Alley's, Criolla's and Cafe 30A, you should plan on driving...unless you are REALLY energetic.

The other thing you might be looking for is a grocery store and liquor store. If you leave your place and head toward Rosemary and Highyway 98, take a right on Highway 98 toward Panama City. About 1-2 miles down, you will see a Publix grocery store on your left. There is a Quicker Liquor store there as well that has a fairly decent wine selection.

One last bit of unsolicited input - not sure where you are coming from, but if you are taking Hwy 331 South off of I-10 at Defuniak springs, about one-half of the way on Hwy 331, you used to have to take a dog leg left thru the town of Freeport and catch back up with 331 heading South. A cut through has now been opened that eliminates the need to jog thru Freeport and a couple of traffic lights. I only mention this because we noticed on our navigation system that we were off the map when we got onto the cut around. We noticed when we left at the end of the week that there were people in a car in front of us puzzling over their handheld Garmin as they took the old left turn to go through Freeport (It still gets you where you are going, but an unnecessary step).

I have not been in the place where you are staying, but I don't think its cheesy at all. It appears to be nice from the exterior. I believe the development is only about 3-4 yrs old, so it should still be in good shape. You are also very close to Rosemary Beach, so you can definitely get a feel for that.

As for locks and helmets. Bamboo provides a lock with the rental. I'm not sure about helmets. I wear a helmet when I bike otherwise, but at the beach, I throw caution to the wind and don't wear a helmet. I don't worry too much about serious injury though becuase peddaling too fast causes me to spill my cocktail.

I would call and make dinner reservations at most of the places I recommended too as places can get busy.

My wife and I along with family and friends have been going to the Panhandle for 20 years and Rosemary for about the past 7 and love it there.

Also, if you are curious about how close together everything is, you can put the address included below in this reply into google maps and zoom in on the satellite. The property you are staying in is the "C" shaped set of buildings with the white roof across 30A from the cluster of buildings with the bright blue roof. The address is for Summer Kitchen (but in its old location, it has since moved across the 30A).

You have made great choice!
Many very nice recommendations from others have already been made....please also add BORAGO restaurant (on 30A, Grayton)..& yes, GEORGES has recently opened.
Also, very fun to pick up steamed shrimp at Goatfeathers Fish Mkt in Seagrove, crabmeat & artichoke dip there as well....makes a wonderful dinner in....also the smoked tuna dip at COCOON's is divine!! Enjoy a lovely breakfast at FABRICE...
Have a wonderful trip!

Hi! We just returned from a week in Seagrove (a couple of miles west of Rosemary). I second (or third) Stinky's Fish Camp. It's located on Hwy 30A in Santa Rosa. They don't take reservations. We arrived early and had no problem, but there was a giant crowd waiting outside when we finished. The meal was outstanding for the adults as well as the children.

We also loved Buddy's Seafood Market (intersection of hwy 98 and 79 toward Panama City). It's a little fish market where you can pick your own seafood to cook yourself at home or they will steam and season it for you to go. We LOVED the jumbo shrimp - steamed and covered in seasoning, butter, hot sauce, fresh green and red onions and lemon wedges! It was fairly inexpensive as well!